Continuous tube packaging machine



May 14, 1968 H. A. JENSEN CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE;

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HANS A. JENSEN May 14, 1968 H. A. JENSEN 3,382,541

CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed sept. 17,4 1965 18 sheemheet a IMQ b .mi QQ m/ INVENTOR HANf,` A. .JENSEN TrYrs.

May 14, 1968 H. A. JENSEN 3,382,641

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HANS A. JENSEN May 14, 1968 H. A.. JENSEN 3,382,641

CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1965 18 Sheets-Sheet 13 May 14, 1968 Filed Sept. 17, 1965 18 Sheets-Sheet 14 INN May 14, 1968 H. A. JENSEN 3,382,641

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CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1965 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 FIG.22

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H. A. JENSEN CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 May 14, 1968 H. A. JENSEN CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE 18 Sheets-Sheet l 8 Filed Sept. 17, 1965 TTYS.

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. HANS A. JENSEN United States Patent O 3,382,641 CONTINUOUS TUBE PACKAGING MACHINE Hans A. Jensen, Madison, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Kartridge Pak Co., Davenport, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 487,977 35 Claims. (Cl. 53--14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for continuously forming and stuffing with a product, such as a sausage batter, a relatively large diameter, tube-like casing of thin pliable film material and dividing the same at interval-s into individual packages which machine includes a horizontally disposed, hollow, tube forming and filling mandrel with associated means to fold a continuous strip of film material into a tube about the same, means to feed a fiowable product to the hollow mandrel which includes apparatus for withdrawing portions of the product from the filling line at intervals so as to provide for partial filling of the tube in the areas where the tube is to be divided, drive means for positively advancing the tube, mechanism carried on a reciprocating head for constricting the tube at intervals lto divide the same into separate package forming sections, a traveling conveyor having a horizontally disposed top run for supporting the filled tube while it is advanced and divided, with control means for varying the rate of advance so as to slow down the advance of the tube while constricting of the tube is accomplished in order `to compensate for the reduction in the length of the tube which occurs when the tube is constricted, and mechanism for forming and applying to the constricted portions of the tube pairs of metal fastener clips which are axially spaced so as to close the top of one package section and the bottom of the adjoining package section.

This invention relates to packaging machines and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine of the type which feeds material to be packaged through a hollow tubular mandrel and into a continuous tube of relatively thin pliable film which is advanced on the mandrel and which divides the filled tube into a plurality of separate individual packages by gathering the tube at predetermined spaced intervals so as to form therein a constricted area within which axially spaced seal formations are applied for closing the top end of one package and the bottom end of the next succeeding package.

Machines have heretofore been provided for continuously feeding along a hollow mandrel a tube of relatively thin, pliable sheet material, such as a plastic film, for filling the tube continuously through the hollow mandrel and for dividing the filled tube at predetermined spaced intervals by gathering the tube material and forming a constricted area within which axially spaced seal formations are applied, and for severing the constricted portion of the tube between the seal formations so as to provide separate, successively formed packages. One such machine of this character is disclosed in Patent No. 2,831,- 302, dated Apr. 22, 1958. Machines of this type have been successfully used for packaging a variety of products, generally in a package of comparatively small diameter and length. However, difiiculties have been encountered in attempting to adapt this type of machine to the formation of a tubular package of relatively large size, that is, of relatively large diameter and length, such as, for example, large bologna or similar meat-type packages which contain a relatively large amount of the product and have substantial weight.

3,382,541 Patented May 14, 1968 ICC It is a general object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine of the continuous tube filling type for producing relatively large packages filled with a liowable material, for example, bologna or a similar meat product wherein the feeding of the product is controlled to provide at intervals for slightly filled portions of the tube or casing which may be readily constricted by clamping members without rupturing the casing so as to provide for the application of end closure members in the constricted casing areas.

Itis a more specific object of the invention to provide a machine for continuously forming a tube from a web of thin pliable material, for filling the tube with a liowable product from a continuous supply thereof while withdrawing portions of the product from the filling line at predetermined intervals so as to provide spaced sections of the tube which are only partly filled and which may be constricted without danger of rupture by reciprocating clamping members carried on a reciprocating head, the head being advanced in timed relation with the filled tube and the tube being supported on a traveling conveyor, the speed of which is varied to slow down the advance of the filled tube while the constricting of the tube is accomplished and having mechanism for applying to the constricted portion of the tube a pair of closure fasteners which are axially spaced and which close the top of one package and the bottom of the next succeeding package.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a package forming machine of the type described a hollow casing stufiing mandrel having a tubular body and a tubular nozzle with an axial connecting passageway and also a passageway around the periphery of the base thereof between the nozzle and the body, with a means incorporated therein for controlling the size of the passageway around the base of the nozzle in timed relation to a reduction in the fiow of the product through the mandrel so as to maintain a nearly constant pressure against the wall of the casing and prevent the fow of air into the portion of the casing into which the product is being delivered.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for continuously forming a packaging tube, filling the tube with a product and applying closure fasteners in axially spaced relation at predetermined intervals so as to divide the filled tube into individual packages wherein a conveyor is provided for supporting the filled tube beyond the filling area which conveyor has a mechanism permitting one portion thereof to operate at a variable speed while the remaining portion runs at a constant speed so as to vary the travel of predetermined sections of the filled tube to compensate for reduction in the length thereof which occurs when the tube is constricted and closure fasteners are applied to the constricted area.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine for continuously forming a series of individual packages wherein a tube of relatively thin, pliable, film material is continuously advanced along a horizontally disposed tubular mandrel and a product is forced through the mandrel and into the tube in a continuous stream, the fiow of the product is controlled so as to provide at intervals for partial filling of the tube, a reciprocably mounted head having tube constricting and closure clip applying devices is mounted to advance with the tube While constricting each successive, partially filled portion of the tube and applying axially spaced closure clips for sealing the trailing end of one package and the leading end of the next succeeding package, and a conveyor is provided for supporting the filled tube as the packages are formed, which conveyor has associated mechanism, reciprocating with the head, for dividing the horizontally disposed conveyor run on which the filled tube is carried into two sections and for varying the speed of the leading section so as to compensate for the reduction in tube length resulting from the infolding of the tube material to constrict the tube and form the package ends.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the package forming apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a package forming machine which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention, the machine being shown with portions thereof omitted and other portions illustrated schematical- 1y;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine With portions omitted or broken away, the view being taken on line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2I to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURES 7 and 7A constitute a vertical cross section taken on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale f and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 7, to a still larger scale;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 7A to a larger scale;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 11G-1t) of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 13 13 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale, showing the cam tracks at one side of the machine;

FIGURE 14 is an elevational View taken on the line 14 14 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 13 13 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale, the view showing the cam tracks on the other side of the machine;

FIGURE 16 is a cross section taken on the line 16 16 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 17 is a cross section taken on the line 17 17 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 18-18 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary plan view taken on the line 19 19 of FIGURE 16, with portions broken away;

FIGURE 2O is a fragmentary section taken on the line 2ti 20 of FIGURE 16, to a larger scale;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 21-21 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 22 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 22-22 of FIGURE 17;

FIGURE 23 is a vertical section taken on the line 23-23 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 24 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 24 24 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away; and

FIGURE 25 is an elevation of the package produced by the machine, with portions broken away.

Referring lirst to FIGURES 1, 2 and 24, there is illustrated a machine having embodied therein the principal features of the invention which is particularly adapted to fabricate, for example, a relatively large bologna package 10 (FIGURE 25). The package 10 which is of generally tubular shape, has a relatively large diameter and length, and its opposite ends are gathered and closed by encircling metal bands or closure clips 11. The packages 10 are formed by the machine in a continuous string or series of uniform size and length, Preferably, the individual packages are separated by severing between the end closure bands 11 on the line indicated at 12 simultaneously with the gathering of the tubular casing and the application of the closure bands 11.

The material for forming the casing or tube T for the package 10 preferably is a continuous plastic web or iilm. A film such as Saran, Plioiilm, polyethylene or similar material which will form a thin pliant skin-like casing is suitable. The illustrated machine is adapted to use Saran film, particularly, since it has properties especially desirable in the packaging of meat and similar products, where it is important to retain the iiavor of the product in the package.

The machine of FIGURES 1 and 2 is supported on a generally rectangular upstanding frame which for convenience in assembly may be made in two sections 14 and IS which are connected together in longitudinal alignment by bolts or other suitable fastening means. The top of the two connected frame sections 14 and 15 may be horizontal but in the form shown it is inclined downwardly towards the forward or leading end thereof so that the path of travel 0f the tube as it is formed, filled and divided into packages is inclined slightly in the direction of the discharge end of the machine. This enables the relatively long package to be delivered at the end of the supporting conveyor into a water tank and be made to float, thereby eliminating distortion in heavy packages.

A film supply roll 16 (FIGURE 1) is supported on forwardly directed brackets 17 which are attached to a vertical cross member 18 at the rear or trailing end of the rearward frame section 14. The film web W passes over and under guide rollers 20 and 21 which are supported on brackets 22 and 23 depending from a top frame portion 24. From the guide roller 21 the web W passes upwardly and over a curved forming plate mounted at the rear or trailing end of a tube or casing forming and filling mandrel assembly 26. An electronic web sealing or seam forming device 27 is associated with the mandrel assembly 26 for continuously sealing the overlapping edges of the tube T which is formed by the web as it passes over the plate 25. One electrode (not shown) of the seam forming device 27 is in the wall of the mandrel 26. The other electrode of the sealing device 27 is mounted on the arm 28 which is pivoted at 30 to the bracket 31, which is upstanding from the frame portion 24, so that the arm may be moved to a non-operative position when desired.

The filling or stuiiing mandrel assembly 26 (FIGURE 5) comprises a tubular body portion 32 and a nozzle 33 at the forward end thereof. The body portion 32 comprises an outer sleeve 34 which is connected at its trailing end to a T-shaped conduit member 35 (FIGURES 2 and 5) and at its leading end terminates at a sizing ring 36, the latter determining the size of the tube T into which the web W is formed and also forming a seal to prevent the sausage batter from leaking back along the body portion 32 of the mandrel. The mandrel body portion 32 has an inside sleeve 37 which is slidably mounted in the outer tube 34 with O-rings or other suitable seals at opposite ends so as to prevent leakage of material. At the leading end the edge 38 of the sleeve 37 is normally spaced a relatively small distance from the tapered or outwardly and forwardly slanted circumferential end wall 39 surrounding the entrance or opening 40 to the discharge nozzle 33, as indicated in phantom line in FIG- URE 5. The opening 4f? forms a passageway of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the sleeve 37 and 

